We know that representation matters in health care. Women play an integral role in teams within Interior Health sites, departments, projects, and education. At every level, there are contributions made by women to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Women hold a number of key leadership roles at Interior Health including president & CEO, as members of the board of directors, and medical chiefs of staff. More than 1,000 of the physicians working at health-care facilities in our region are women. “Within Interior Health, I think we have done quite well in this space.  We have female leaders at all levels and we have wage parity,” says Susan Brown, president & CEO of Interior Health.  “However, there is always room for improvement by making it easy for those who want to advance by, for example, making childcare more accessible. What is really important is that we are using our employee feedback to advance in this area." This year the Government of Canada's theme for International Women's Day is Every Woman Counts. “For me, it’s that not everything women do will be visible to others, or even readily acknowledged. There are a lot of working women out there who juggle full plates every day, at work and at home! It’s not always easy, but the work women do is meaningful and makes a difference to individuals and communities,” says Susan.   In honour of International Women's Day on March 8, 2023, we're profiling four of the amazing women at Interior Health.

Four teens have won Interior Health’s Take a Breath: Teen Voices on Tobacco and Vaping poster contest. Each winner will receive a $150 gift card of their choice. The winning posters are being professionally printed, displayed in hospitals and health centres, and shared with schools throughout the region. “We want to thank everyone who took the time to submit an entry for this poster contest to help raise awareness and help people make informed decisions on this important health topic,” says Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet. “Smoking tobacco and vaping have significant, proven negative impacts on our health. These posters by youth for youth provide important information about the health risks, and differences between commercial and traditional tobacco use.”

Name: Kevin Miskosky (he/him/his)Job Title: Maintenance WorkerYears of Service: 32Worksite: Gateby Care FacilityCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Do it once, do it right.” - Anonymous Kevin Miskosky, maintenance worker at Interior Health, has been in B.C. health care for an impressive 32 years. Kevin started at Surrey Memorial Hospital, then moved to Vernon Jubilee Hospital in 1997, and finally to Gateby Care Facility in Vernon in 2009.  A jack-of-all-trades, when asked what keeps him motivated in his job, Kevin responds: “All my moms and dads at Gateby.” The residents are what is most important to Kevin, day in and day out.

In February at Interior Health, we honour Black History Month and the vast contributions our Black employees have made and continue to make throughout our health-care system.  As Black History Month comes to a close, we spoke with several Black Interior Health employees about the struggles, barriers and journeys they have experienced, and the importance of celebrating Black history beyond February and educating ourselves about Black history.  It’s also an important reminder that, although we continue to implement and enhance diversity and inclusion efforts, there is a lot of work yet to be done to address bias, stereotypes, and racism.

Name: Kristin Auclair (she/her/hers)Job Title: Admitting clerkYears of Service: 10Worksite: Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Life is too short” and “Everything happens for a reason” Kristin Auclair’s inspiration to work in health care came close to home. “I worked in the lab at (Penticton Regional Hospital) for nine years before making my change and working as an admitting clerk,” Kristin said. “My mom inspired me with my career in the lab because she was also in the lab for many years.” Kristin says one of her proudest moments working for Interior Health was getting a permanent full-time position in the lab after working many years as a casual. She also credits getting a job in admitting, which she had always wanted, as another one of her proudest moments.

Name: Yvette Shukin (she/her/hers)Job Title: Surgical booking clerkYears of Service: 25Worksite: Kootenay Lake HospitalCommunity: NelsonAncestral Territory: KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Reset, restart, refocus as many times as you need to. Just don't quit.” - Unknown Born and raised in Nelson, Yvette Shukin began her career at Interior Health in 1997 in health information management systems as a medical transcriptionist and health information processing clerk. Three years ago, she moved to surgical services at Kootenay Lake Hospital, and celebrated 25 years with Interior Health in July 2022.

Once again Interior Health has been named as on of BC’s Top Employers. And for the first time we’ve also received the honour of being one of the best employers in the country for young people. What’s behind our success? One word:people.

Name: Dr. Joel Stimson (he/him/his)Job Title: Full-scope rural family physicianYears of Service: 6Worksite: Elk Valley HospitalCommunity: FernieAncestral Territory: KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I may not be the best doctor, but I’m the best doctor working that shift.” This helps ease the anxiety of working in a rural community, and pushes me to work towards being the best physician I can. Born in Halifax and raised in Calgary, Dr. Joel Stimson has always known he loved all aspects of medicine, which is why he chose rural family medicine. Dr. Stimson describes himself as passionate, caring, a team player and hard working, all vital to being a full-scope rural family physician out of the Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie. “I love variety. Providing birth-to-grave care allows me to be involved with the families and people in need. Being part of patients’ highs and lows, and critical life decisions, is an honour.”

Name: Jacqueline Stewart (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing unit assistantYears of Service: 10Worksite: Shuswap Lake General HospitalCommunity: Salmon ArmAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: I was born ready! Jacqueline Stewart was born in Kamloops at Royal Inland Hospital and moved to North Vancouver when she was eight. A happy-go-lucky person who is always ready for adventure, she set off for California with a girlfriend in their Volkswagen van the day after Jacqueline’s 21st birthday. They lived in beautiful Santa Barbara for three years before Jacqueline returned to North Vancouver, where she raised her two children.  Eleven years ago, Jacqueline decided to go back to school and start a new career. She chose to go into the medical field and earned her nursing unit course certificate. She’s now been working at Shuswap Lake Hospital for 10 years.